Parachute shroud line suspension structure



April 7, 1953 L. P. FRIEDER ETAL 2,634,063 PARACHUTE SHROUD LINE SUSPENSION STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 25, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS.

, LEONARD a FRIEDER WALTER s. FINKEN ATTORNEY.

April 7, 1953 L. P. FRIEDER ETAL PARACHUTE SHROUD LINE SUSPENSION STRUCTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 25, 1950 FIG.6

INVENTORS. LEONARD P. FRIEDER WALTER S. FINKEN BY M ATTOR NEY.

' P 7, 1953 L. P. FRIEDER ETAL 2,634,068

PARACHUTE SHROUD LINE SUSPENSION STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 25, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS LEONARD' P. FRIEDER WALTER S. FINKEN B M MM ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 7, 1953 PARACHUTE SHROUD LINE SUSPENSION STRUCTURE Leonard P. Fricder, Great Neck, and Walter S. Finken, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Reconstruction Finance Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of the United States Application January 25, 1950, Serial No. 140,424

10 Claims. (01. 244-145) This invention relates to parachutes and more particularly to shroud line suspension structure for parachutes, i. e. arrangements whereby'the shroud lines, which usually converge to one or more points for suspension of the load, are connected to the canopy of the apparatus for transmission of the load-retarding force. In a more particular sense, the invention is directed to improved parachute rigging or shroud-line-suspending arrangements of the type involving a hem cord, e. g. a continuous cord encircling the hem of the parachute and enclosed within a hem sleeve or equivalent structure, whereby strain is transferred from the shroud lines in a somewhat distributed manner to the lower edge of the fabric canopy. Examples of prior structures of this type are as embodied in our Patent No. 2,365,184,

granted December 19, 1944, for Parachute, and

likewise as shown in Patent No. 2,412,392, granted December 10, 1946, for Parachute, on the application of Walter S. Finken. Such arrangements, for example, include a hem cord traversing a continuous sleeve around the edge of the canopy, the sleeve having openings at peripherally spaced localities for access to the cord, and the'upper ends of the shroud lines being directly connected to the cord, as by a loop around the cord at each openin An important object of the present invention is to provide improved suspension structures of the character described, affording greater or more complete distribution of load stress along the lower edge of the canopy, while I achieving anefiective and secure support of the load. A further object is to provide a suspension structurewhereby the load supporting connections at the hem edge of the canopy may be of an appropriately large number, spaced around the edge, and thus may aiiord effective distribution of stress throughout the canopy fabric, whilethe shroud lines may be of a reduced or small number so as to minimize the possibility of shroud line entanglement and. so as to permit economy of stow age space, i. e. for stowing the parachute in its packed condition while it is being carried aloft prior to use. A further object is to provide a suspension system for parachutes, wherein the maximum points of strain exerted on the canopy edge by the shroud lines may be multiplied, as desired; from the number of such lines, for greater distribution of force upon the canopy fabric. Another object is to provide new and improved apparatus of the character stated, particularly adapted for a canopy of the hemispherical type, wherein opening or deployment of the canopy is facilitated; a still further object is to provide structure thus enhancing the opening, or any desired constricting, of the canopy, such structure avoiding frictional and like reistance to the proper enlargement or other displacement of the canopy hem to its intended, operative diameter. It may be explained that hemispherical parachute canopies tend to bloom or open through successive stages, the earlier stages involving a pearshaped orother elongated configuration wherein the hem edge of the canopy is contracted to a' substantially smaller diameter than that finally desired and permitted fy the actual fabric dimensions. The arrangements of the present invention are useful for other types of canopies, especially for othershaped canopies wherein some advantages of a true hemisphere are sought by means of a skirt or like structure arranged with an upper portion which may resemble the corresponding part of a so-called fiat type canopy.

Other objects .are to provide improved ap paratus of the character described, wherein maintenance of the several lines and connecting parts in their. desired. relationship is promoted and wherein lateral displacement of a shroud or other load-supporting line is obviated, a further, specificobject being to provide novel and effective means for preventing such lateral displacement of a connecting loop along a cord which supports it. v

- To these and other ends, certain presently prefered embodiments of the invention-are described below and set forth in the accompanying drawings, by way of example, to illustrate the features and principles of improvement.

Referring to the drawings: Fig. l is a diagrammatic view of a load-carrying parachute, embodying one form of suspension in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of the hem region of the parachute in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view showing the configuration of the canopy edge and line structure prior to full deployment;

Fig. 4 is a view, similar to Fig. 2, illustrating another embodiment of the present improve ments; v Fig. 5 is a fragmen ary View illustrating the embodiment of Fig. 4 with the parachute in partially deployed condition; Fig. 6 is a view, similarto Fig. 1,of a further structure according to the invention;

Fig. 7 is a view like Figs. 2 and 4, showing the device of Fig. 6;

so-called floating hem cord, to which the shroud lines are directly attached, through openings in the hem sleeve, at points correspondingly spaced' around the edge of the canopy. While the floating hem cord serves to distribute a substantial portion of the stresses along the hem line of the canopy, localized stress orpull of considerable.

extent nevertheless occurs at the localities of the canopy adjacent such openings, i. e. transmitted by the cord, which itself is subjected to the com-- pletely localized downward stress of the shroud lines at such localities. While such arrangements are nevertheless effective, the adaptation of parachutesfor support of heavier loads and for discharge at very high air speeds, tends to. in-- crease the. stresses onthe canopy, both. during inflation and thereafter, and the. present invention is. thereforedesigned. (as. explained above) toafiord greater or better distribution of load stress and to permit efiective parachute construction .with canopiesof. minimum. strength fabric.

With devices of the sort shownin the patents cited above, for example. as in Fig. 15. of the FinkenPatentNo. 2,412,392. and Figs. 1 and 3 of our Patent. No- 2,365,184, the. preliminary opening stages of a hemispherical. canopy involvethe Withdrawal of. the. heme. cord into. a depending loop, i. e. at. each sleeve opening,,under. the pull oflthe.correspondingshroudline. Thehem sleeve and adjacentregionsof the canopy are. thencorrespondingly gathered or shirred,.so as to occupy a much shorter distance along, the hem cord between successive openings. Subsequent extension of. the hemedge to the desired, full diameter, requires, the. retraction of .the cord from the. depending loops intothe sleeve. Considerable frictional resistance is exerted in the last-mentioned operation, thereby increasing the amount of work which must be performed by the canopy, relative to the load, in the final stages of deployment.

Although this additional work is of no disadvantage under. many circumstances the situation of'heavy loadsand high air speeds makes it deenable to minimize all forces acting on the canopy or required to be overcome in the canopydeploying operation. While Fig. 4 of the cited Patent No. 2,365,184. shows one structure which avoids the frictional problem last stated and while in our copending application Serial No. 122,962, filed October 22, 1949, we have shown that the problem may also be avoided in the devices of the cited patents bybar-tacking or otherwise securing the hem cord to the sleeve at the edges of each opening, the structures hereinbelow described afiord an improved arrangement for such purpose, particularly in combination with features otherwise of structural advantage.

It will be understood that a hemispherical canopy, to which the present invention is parti'cul'arly related, is a canopy wherein the several constituent pieces of'fabric are so cut and joined together that the parachute on deploying assumes a substantially truly hemispherical shape, as distinguished from so-calledfiat or parabolic canopies. One form of hemispherical parachute isshown, for example, in the above cited Patent No. 2,412,392.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the illustrated apparatus of the present invention includes a hemispherical canopy it, which is composed, for instance, of a crown section I I, and a circumferential series of fabric gores 12 joined at their substantially vertical edges; and which is intended toasupport'a load i l. by shroud. lines 16, the bottom or hem edge of the canopy being designated l8. Along the latter edge, the canopy has a hem sleeve 29 adapted to receive a hem cord 22, i. e. extending peripherally around the bottom edge of the canopy as more particularly describedbelow.

Thehem: sleeve has a plurality of openings 24 spaced regularly around the hem edge, and preferably disposed at. intermediate regions of the canopygores, i. e. avoiding coincidence with vertical seams. While in the arrangement of the previously cited patents, the hem cord is completely enclosed by the sleeve 20 and there is a shroud line connected to the hem cord through each opening, the arrangement of Fig. 2 involves the .alternatedispositionof.the. hem cord through portions Zllaof thehem sleeve and in an outside relationto the hem vatportions Ziib thereof. Thus the hem cord'passesin and outthrough successive. openings. 24, so that the portions 22a of the hem cord are. enclosed in sleeve portions 20a while portions 22b of the hem. cord extend outside of the canopy, between successively spaced pairs. of openings 24. The shroud lines 16 are directly connected to the external bridging or ratline, portions 221) of the hem cord, for example by providing the upper end of each shroud line with a loop 25 which encircles the cord.

By this arrangement a decreased number of shroud lines is permitted, yet the distribution of strainto. the canopyis effective. in equal amount and location to the arrangement of the prior patent, i. e; where there. is a shroud line connected to the hem cord at each opening in the sleeve. While the only sleeve-portions actually utilized in the structure of Figs. 1 to 3 are the portions 20a, and there is thus no necessity for an-actual sleeve at the regions 26b, the drawings indicate such structure as representing simplicity and uniformity in manufacturing operation.

A particular advantage of the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 to 3 is that when the canopy begins to inflate, and its bottom edge is preliminarily contracted to a small diameter under the initial shock or weight of'the load, the spaces 2% of the canopy edge and lower portion simply assume the shape of'a largepleat or fold, as indicated in Fig. 3; Thus each loop 22?) of the hem cord is pulled downward in the manner shown, bringing adjacent'openings 24 close together, and forming the stated pleat or fold. Thereafter;

expansion of the hem edge of the canopy to its intended diameter simply involves the upward movement'of each shroud line relativeto the bottom edge of the canopy, so as to more nearly straighten out the loops 22b. There is no frictional loss occasioned by pulling the cord relative tothe sleeve, since the cord is wholly free of the canopy'fabric at the region 22b. Thus prompt and complete opening of the canopy is greatly facilitated.

The eflect just" described is enhanced by provision-of suitable means to prevent lateral displacement of the cord in the sleeve portions 20a, adjacent the openings 2%. Thus, for example, suitable stitching or bar tacking 26 may be employed. sewing thesleeve faces together through the cord 28 at the stated localities. It is thereby fully insured that the downward pull on the line porland 5,-where the-canopy 30,. represented byg por- -..tions of two of its gores 3| :and having a bottom edgel32 ,is {provided-with .a' similar hem sleeve "34. .Ahem-cord (idlikewise extends completely around thahemedge of.-.-the canopy, but in, this instance :isfully enclosed-within.thehemsleeve except for ....accessibility.- at. .the regularly: spaced openings 1 3 8 .in theisleeve. A supplemental line orcord ML-is .llikewisei arrangedv .to encircle the canopy at the .hottom, but conveniently, outside the. hem. sleeve 34. a-I-helcordl-dfi is lopped-or woven oventhehem cord:3,6;ateachsof.'theppenings. 38,;e. g. bysirnply- ..passing-:.over-the I cord 36 .in the ,samedirectionat leach-a successive :opening. Thus the cord 1340.18 rmaintained'in place by the hem cord BSandconv:stitutes, in efiect,.a.succession of ratline orzsus- ;pended cord; portions or loops intermediate successive openings: .33. To each alternate portion l-dflaof theseexternalcord, vportions, .one of the shroud linesg i I may, be connected, asv by :means :of *:-a loop- 4-2 surrounding the. cord.

.Thus -.in the arrangement of Fiend, there is a xshroud-line 2 I; ;for eachgpair oi connections-to the :hem. cord :35. -In@consequence essentially ;;the samea-advantages are obtained, i. e. in: permitting a reduction -in ithe;.numb er-izof. shroud lines, ,or

alternatively, in providing azgreateridistrihuti'on rof- :spacesaof;-localized,.rsupporting: stress .on the scanopyxarounddtsbottom edge. ;.Like.loartac.k- .ing M maylialso be employed in .theiarrangement "of Figs; .42 and-5,-.to :secure .the hem cord, 35; against flateralv displacementin the hem. sleeve. 3d .at. both fedgesofweach of -the.;op.enings 38. .Undersuch circumstances: the preliminaryretracted condiitiOn": of ,ztherhem-sedge .oi'; :theL'ca-nQpy as. it :starts to open, will involve the foldingnof the .edge and .lower canopyrportion, :into single; large. .pleats or iolds:asrrepresehted:att ifijn:liiigpo. -S11ch:pleats 'or. foids willlat:leastoccur "in: the canopy :portions hridg-edrhy 'Lthe ratlineaportions .e iiia'pand usually also inithe.intermediatetispacesist tl ligsel of the :a-canopy 'eedge, i. ::e.i-hetw een 1 the other, alternate pairssoizaopeningszt3. Jn:.consequencerfirictional resistance is .ess.ential1y .avoided .intthe final de .ployment of the .canopytoitsiull, intended shape.

- While thearrangementofi Figs. 4. and; 5'iseminently useful, the structure oil-Figs." 1. to 13 iso'f some ipresent' prefereneeiior heavier. duty as well was-for simplicityoof structure, It will be'noted *that'sin Figs.=i.4;.and 5 :there .may :be 1 some small :irictionallefiect of the external cord-ts across the ,asmall IOOPSZDfIilhBIhBn'I. cord diet the openings, respecialiy if. pleats are formedin regionsAB ofthe canopy? edge. 7

:Aiurthen and especially preferred arrangement is illustrated in Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive, where-a :1ike; hemispherica1canopy5t is shown, having a ,crown' se'ctionzfil and side gores 52, terminating cinuiaiibottom edgex'lid. -.Againa hem -sleeve 55"is providedadjacent the bottom edge, enclosing a :continuoushem ucord fiti which is accessible through successive, regularly spacedopenings 58 along the sleeve. Successiva'spaced, pairs of the openings fis arehridged by separate, external cord .portions.- .Bn, which are conveniently:connected to thezhemscordzais rzbyilloops 6 I zratctheirzrespective :cnds, .1i. ;.-1e.1 in. the :successive openings :58. iflh'e rshroud linessfl -of:.the;:p.arachute; are connected respectively to the external cord portions 6.0;.erg. by loops Stat theends of the shroud lines. ,Itis thus. seen that the portions .tfiflthusbridge: succes- ;sive,. spaced. canopy edgesportions sfitwbeingseptarated, successively 'aroundxthexcanopy by intermediate'edge portions. 54b, whichzmaybe ofrsimilardength. Inrconsequence, the;number of localsized regionstof stress onxthe canopy. is increased -relativefto itheinumber of. shroud lines, afiording a great dist'ributionof stressxonthe canopy gores,

.aszclearly apparentin Fig. 6.

i'lihearrangement of Fig"? may likewise include bartacking 64, zsecuringithe .hem cord 56 win the sleeve-54 at each SidBzOf each opening 58,preventingiateral displacement of. the cordin the sleeve and'thuspermitting the retracted. condition of the canopy edge to assume single large folds; 6. 3gfES showniatififajn Fig. 9, at..jthe:portions bridgedby each ra'tline:60,..and1inded-similarlyat the inter- :mediategportions fi4b inmany instances.

As 'shownimore particularly inFigs; 8 and '9;-ithe arrangement of these views includes means I (means of'similar purpose-being also applicable-to corresponding partsof other-embodiments of .the

invention, if desired) for preventing 'sidewise movement or: slippageof the: shroud line-conned tion'fit alongtheexternal or'ratline cord portions '60. Bridge. 8 and .9, the specific arrangement involves zthe: constitution of the ratline portions 66 from tubular, braided. cord, ipeE having ai' h'ol- :low center. .Each'of the loopsfilconstitutes: a big'htrintthe cordghaving a furtherend portion'tl :whichis zhroug'ht into the hollow center 0f" the standing part :of the cord -6ii, being"threaded through; the strands of the cord -wall at ithe vicinityfifi o'f the loop theend portion 61 having .40

" of the ratline portion 5% sufiicientextentto reach nearly to the center 139 Thus for the major part of its length at either side of the shroud-loop,"'thecord'80 i considerably thickened by F the reentrant I end "portion fi'l, leaving a thin zone or sectionzat the centerBB, 20f: considerablysmaller diameter, whichis prefzerably snugly fitted by the loophliii of the shroud :line'eZ. It will be understoodthat theloop 63; as likewise other loops herein -.discl0sed, may be achieved by telescopically splicing theend-"lit oi .the tubular cord orrvvhieh the shroudllin'e is-made, into the center. of thesstandingpart oftheis'hrolid dine. Thusibythe constructionzoi Figs. Sand e, mreferably achieved by ithe: telescopic splicing :cf

theicop :endilfil within theicord' portion 58 ateac'h .endgof the .latterxiand' throughout nearly allxof the-distance to litscenterpointzfis ,zthe .loop '63 is keptrgatzthezcenter :iocality, against sliding over the thicker portions.

:zlis willnow :beapparent, the-:arrangementxof -Figsnfi :tor9 inclusivaizhas the .advantageszzof the structures ingthe preceding :figures, particularly indistribution of load force Ialongthe hemofithe :canopyand in afiording :astrong and reliah'le 'support: of theloadmhile permitting the use .of.-fabric 10f minimum-weight andstrengthyior the canopy .59. -Frictional:resistance iseobviatedln opening -or retraction of the:canopy hem; as byiiorm-ing .folds in thetmanner indicated in Fig. ,9: rather .than the pleated ,or :shir-red condition; of' azhem .sleevearound ahem cord. A complete-hemmm is -provided for its. own force-distributing effect-:at

all-localities intermediate the openings or points of connection SS yetby thecseparate-zratlinepor- ,=tions=.-69, effective distribution from the vshroud '5" line 62 is provided. While further concentration of the stresses between the canopy and the shroud lines may be effected (in similar fashion to the arrangements herein shown) by supplemental or additional, intermediate ratline structures, the systems shown in the drawings are peculiarly effective for the described purpose and constitute practical and efficient shroud line supports for a wide variety of types and uses of parachutes.

The devices are of cooperative advantage in facilitating the so-called skirting or incurving effect at the hem line of the parachute, which is specifically pointed out in Fig. 1, but which may be characteristic of the other arrangements as well. That is to say, whereas the full or intended form of the parachute may be a complete hemisphere, having a semi-circular contour at the lowermost edges as represented by the dotted lines 10, operation under load (especially heavier loads or higher air speeds) tends to retract the hem edge I8 of the canopy to a slightly smaller diameter so that the region immediately adjacent the edge, e. g. extending upward for several inches, curves inwardly as indicated at H. This incurving or skirting configuration of the deployed canopy has been found to contribute materially to the sta bility of the structure in flight, i. e. after it is bloomed and when it is serving its load-retarding function. Oscillation of the canopy, spilling of air and like effects are greatly reduced, yet without appreciable sacrifice of buoyant force. The essentially friction-free system of the present devices, i. e. structures wherein expansion and retraction of the hem edge may occur simply as a resultant of the forces exerted by the canopy, load and air stream, and without hindrance due to frictional effects of a hem cord in a sleeve or the like, permit full realization of the described incurving effect. The hem edge of the canopy, in other words, is entirely free to assume the configuration H shown in Fig. 1, with its described advantages. As indicated, improvement in this respect is similarly characteristic of the other devices herein illustrated, particularly including the device of Fig. 6.

t is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific apparatus herein shown and described, but may be embodied in other forms without departure from its spirit.

We claim:

1. In a parachute, the combination, with a canopy having a hem edge, of a shroud line suspension structure comprising a plurality of loopforming line portion arranged in association with the canopy around its hem edge to constitute loops projecting from said edge, the ends of each 100 being spaced so that the loop tends to exert tension on the canopy at corresponding spaced localities and the adjacent ends of successive loops being spaced along the hem edge, so that all of said localities are successively spaced, a plurality of suspension line portions respectively connected to the loops to exert downward pull at a central region of each loop, a hem sleeve around the said hem edge of the canopy, a hem cord supported in said sleeve, said sleeve having openings at the aforesaid localities respectively, through which said hem cord is accessible, and said structure including a supplemental cord arranged to encircle the canopy adjacent the hem edge, said supplemental cord lying outside the hem sleeve but passing over the aforesaid hem cord at each of the aforesaid openings, the portions of said supplemental cord intermediate successive, spaced pairs of openings thereby constituting the aforesaid loop-forming line portions.

2. In a parachute, the combination, with a canopy having a hem edge, of a shroud line suspension structure comprising a hem sleeve around said hem edge, said sleeve having openings successively spaced around the hem edge, each opening being spaced from the openings nearest it by corresponding portions of the sleeve, a hem cord disposed within said hem sleeve all the way around said hem edge, said hem cord being supported by all of said sleeve portions, a plurality of separate cords disposed externally of the sleeve around the hem edge and each constituting a loop projecting from the hem edge, each said separate cord being connected at its ends to the hem cord at corresponding spaced openings of the hem sleeve which are separated by one of the sleeve portions and which are each separated from the next adjacent end of a loopconstituting cord by one of the sleeve portions, and a plurality of suspension line portions respectively connected to said separate loop-constituting cords to exert downward pull at a central region of each said separate cord, said structure including means adjacent each opening, at each side thereof, for securing the hem cord against lateral displacement in the sleeve, each of said last-mentioned separate cords including thickened portions respectively extending from the ends thereof to a locality at the center of the cord, the suspension line portion connected to the said cord'having a loop snugly encircling the cord at its center intermediate the thickened portions, said thickened portions thereby preventing lateral displacement of the suspension line portion along the cord.

3. A parachute as described in claim 2, wherein each of said separate cords is constituted of tubular fabric, and has a terminal loop at each end for connecting it to the aforesaid hem cord, each said thickened portion being constituted by an extended portion of the said cord, beyond each said terminal loop, telescopically disposed within the standing part of the cord adjacent the terminal loop.

4. In rigging for a parachute or the like, a supporting cord connected at its ends to horizontally separated points of support, a suspension line portion having a loop around the cord which connects the line portion to the cord at a predetermined intermediate locality of the cord, said cord having thickened portions respectively extending along it away from points adjacent said locality. said thickened portions preventing sidewise displacement of the aforesaid suspension line loop away from said locality.

5.-Rigging as described in claim 4, said cord is constituted of tubular fabric, and has a terminal loop at each end for connecting it to the corresponding point of support, each said thickened portion being constituted by an extended portion of the said cord, beyond each said terminal loop, telescopically disposed withing the standing part of the cord adjacent the terminal loop.

6. In a parachute, the combination, with a canopy having a hem edge, of a shroud line suspension structure comprising a hem sleeve around said hem edge, said sleeve havin openings successively spaced around the hem edge. each opening being spaced from the openings nearest it by corresponding portions of the sleeve, a plurality of external loop-forming line portions disposed around the hem edge to constitute wherein loops projecting from said edge, each loop-forming line portion extending from a pair of said spaced openings of the sleeve so that the loop ends are separated by a sleeve portion, and the said sleeve openings at the ends of each loop being spaced from the sleeve openings at the ends of adjacent loops by sleeve portions, sleevesupported line portions in all of said last-men- .tioned sleeve portions connecting the ends of their adjacent loop-forming line portions for support of the loops, and a plurality of suspension line portions respectively connected to the loops to exert downward pull at a central region of each loop, each of the said sleeve-supported line portions being disposed within and along and being supported by the sleeve portion which encloses it, and each said last-mentioned sleeve portion having means at its ends, adjacent the openings at such ends, for securing the enclosed, sleeve-supported line portion against lateral displacement in the sleeve.

7. A parachute as described in claim 6, which includes a hem cord extending completely around the h m edge inside said sleeve and comprising portions which constitute said sleeve-supported line portions, each of said loop-forming line portions comprising a cord element attached at its ends to the hem cord at respectively spaced openings of the sleeve, and the aforesaid line-portionsecuring means being means adjacent each opening, on the side thereof opposite to the direction in which the related loop-forming cord portion extends to another opening, for securing the hem cord against lateral displacement in the hem' sleeve. 1 8. A parachute as described in claim 6, which includes a continuous hem cord encircling the canopy at the hem edge, said sleeve-supported line portions and said external loop-forming line portions constituting alternately successive portions of said encircling hem cord, and the aforesaid line-portion-securing means being means adjacent each opening, on the side thereof opposite to the direction in which the related loop-forming cord portion extends to another opening, for securing the hem cord against lateral displacement in the hem sleeve.

9. In a parachute, the combination, with a canopy having a hem edge, of a shroud line suspension structure comprising a hem sleeve around said hem edge, said sleeve having openings successively spaced around the hem edge, each opening being spaced from the openings nearest it by corresponding portions of the sleeve, a hem cord disposed within said hem sleeve all the way around said hem edge, said hem cord being sup-,

ported by all of said sleeve portions, a supplemental cord similarly extending around the hem edge outside of the sleeve, said supplemental cord being laced overthe hem cord at each of the aforesaid openings; said supplemental cord thus constituting successive supplemental cord portions respectively extending between the openings, every other such supplemental cord portion along the hem edge constituting a projecting loop-forming cord portion, and a plurality of suspension line portions respectively connected to said loop-forming cord portions to exert downward pull at a central region of each loopforming portion.

10. In a parachute, the combination, with a canopy having a hem edge, of a shroud line suspension structure comprising a hem sleeve around said hem edge, said sleeve having openings suscessively spaced around the hem edge, each opening being spaced from the openings nearest it by corresponding portions of the sleeve, a hem cord disposed within said hem sleeve all the way around said hem edge, said hem cord being contained within and supported by all of said sleeve portions, a plurality of separate cords disposed externally of the sleeve around the hem edge and each constituting a loop projecting from the hem edge, each said separate cord being connected at its ends to the hem cord at a corresponding pair of the spaced openings of the hem sleeve which are separated from each other by one of the sleeve portions and each of which is spaced and separated, by a sleeve portion, from the next adjacent end of the next adjacent one of said separate loop-constituting cords, and a plurality of suspension line portions respectively connected to said separate loop-constituting cords to exert downward pull at a central region of each said separate cord.

LEONARD P. FRIEDER. WALTER S. FINKEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,839,441 Rockofi Jan. 5, 1932 2,365,184 Frieder Dec. 19, 1944 2,384,127 Nailor Sept. 4, 1945 2,411,868 Brown Dec. 3, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 791,480 France ...a Sept. 30, 1935 863,871 France Jan. 6, 1941 

